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B.C. restaurant Baan Lao wins best in North America award for 2026
The Richmond Thai restaurant topped 22 Canadian and 18 U.S. nominees in a weighted vote, adding its third straight best-in-Canada honor.
- On Wednesday, Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine was named North America's Best Restaurant by the World Culinary Awards, marking the first Canadian establishment to win the honor.
- Chef Nutcha Phanthoupheng and John Phanthoupheng opened the 20-seat waterfront restaurant five years ago in Steveston Village to serve "Royal Thai tasting menus with individually plated courses."
- Weighted voting selected Baan Lao over 22 Canadian and 18 U.S. nominees, breaking a streak where previous North American winners were exclusively from the United States, including The French Laundry and Le Bernardin.
- "I wanted to show people that Thai food is more than just street food," said Chef Phanthoupheng, accepting the award in Montego Bay, Jamaica, validating the team's dedication to authentic Thai cuisine.
- The owners plan to open Baan Baan and Le KaNom in Summer 2027 at the Chain & Forge Building on Granville Island, continuing their expansion of Thai culinary concepts.
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21 Articles
21 Articles
The Toronto Star+14 Reposted by 14 other sources
B.C. restaurant Baan Lao wins best in North America award for 2026
RICHMOND - A Richmond, B.C., restaurant has been named the best in North America by a global hospitality and culinary industries group, in a first for a Canadian establishment.
·Toronto, Canada
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Total News Sources21
Leaning Left10Leaning Right1Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Left
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources lean Left
56% Left
L 56%
C 39%
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